Automatic valve-operating mechanism.



C. 6. EIDSON & T. DAVIS.

AUTOMATIC VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED .ILINE25, ISIS. 1,192,774.

Patented July 25, 1916. I 26"' l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A TTOHNE VS WITNESSES:

C. G. EIDSON & T. DAVIS.

AUTOMATIC VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED IuNE 25.1915.

1 ,1 92,7 74. Patente@ July 1916.

2 sugars-SHEET 2.

B10/wi um A TTU/MHS 'oFF-ion.

CHARLES GEORGE EIDSON AND THGMAS DAVIS, G? BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGN.. ORS,-BY MESNE SSEGNMQENTS, TQ THE EDSON AIR PRODUCTS COMPANY, 0F BARTMORE. MARYLANB, A CORPSRATIQN OF MRYLAND.

AUTOMATIC VALVE-DPERATNG MECHANSM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 25, i916.

Application filed June 25, 1915. Serial No. 35,294.

lie il. known ihril wn. ("imnnns (li-:onor:

lhnsox and Timms Dix-11s, "-itizens of the United States, and residents of the 'city of Baltimore, in the Stalin of Blnrvhxnd. have invented certain .new and useful improvements in Automatic faire-OperatingMechanisms, of which the following is a specilication. y Our invention relates to improvements in automatic valve operating mechanisms, and it consists in the combinations, cfnistructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.; i

An object of our invention is to provide adevice .by means of which valves may he operated which control the iow of air into and out of a pressure tank, the device being so arranged as ltocanse the operation o the valves when the pressure reaches n prede termined minimum and afterward to cause the reverse movement of the valves when the pressure reaches a predetermindd maximum.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of the type described in Which the movement of the valve is accomplished suddenly by novel mechanism which positively insures the operation of the valve at the noint determined.

A further object of our invention is to proYr vide a device 'if he i; df if d .in which aslow and err .f or: =nt of cert-:1in of the paris resnlis in a (inn snort .movernemu oi'I thc valve, means being interposed hetween hose parte for compensating for lost motion.

Other advantages and objects-will appear in the following specification und the novel features o1" the invention will he particularly poin'mi fmtin the appended claims.

(.)nr invention is illustrated in the aecompanyingf drawings forming part of this up plcation invhioh* Figure l a sectional view through th vnive operating n rrhanisrn. n ig. if. face View of the valve operating' mecha certain parte being shown in evelien. g. is a detail vien' of one or' ihr slidnhle im ing members. Li View showing the manner in n; ogfernting mechaeiisin is i 1 derail view one oi of the valve; another slidahle member.

verse section through the device substantially on (he line 7-7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a longiA tlnlinal sectional View of the slidable nicmher shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. l9 is an end View of the slidable member shown in Figs. 5 and 8,

`Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that We vhave provided a cylindrical housing l. whichv has n closed end 2 provided with an opening 3 arranged to receive a cylindrical member e. The latter has a threaded por tion 4' into which is screwed a threaded portion 5? of a. stem 5 bearing a head 6. A spiral spring 7 bears on the head G at one end and at lthe other end on a plate 8 which may he adjusted by Set screws 9 passing through the end 2. A

The head G projects into a. chamber l0 in which disposed a diaphragm 11,A the diaphragm ll being arranged to bear on the head G, nsshown inthe drawings The cham her 10 communicates, by mea@ of the passage 12, with the interior -of a. valve casing This valve casing is provided with a `valve 14 arranged to engagea valve seat 15.

A spring 1G hears atone end onv the valve 14, and at the other end on a screw plug 17. Iihe valve 14 is connected hymeans of a bnr 1S with slidable member 19 one end of; which is shaped to form a valve 20 which is arranged toyengage a valve seat 21 It will he observed that the valve 14 is at one end of a passage 22 and the valve QO-at the other end, the bar 18 passing through this passage. This har 18 is of such a length that when the valve M is closed, the valve 20 is held open by the bar 18 and v ice versa. The slidabl@ nmmber 19 extends through a guide porriun Q3 and terminates 'on bhe exterior horeof. Air ports 24 and 25' communicate with the interior of the valve'casing and with the passage 22 respectively.

.SC-cured to the cylindrical member l Vis a T-shaped bracket 26 which is provided with a longitudinal slot. 27 and a transverse slot 23 intersecting the longitudinal slot 27. lilhlbly disposed in the longitudinal slot 27 is' 1 har 29, this har being hollow except for e pnrlilion 29x flisiosed toward one end, seo liigf. S. A spring 30 is disposzd within the .*llew h: and hears at one on the 'p"ri* and nl Shrolhcr end on a collar 31 cariedhy a plunger Onv the Oneonta side of the 'oarlilion iS a spring 33 wh oh bears on the partition at one end and at the other end on a collar 34 carried by a plunger 35. Pins v36 and 37 limit the movements of the collars 31 and 34 respectively. The bar 29 is provided on one side with a slot 38 and on the opposite side with a slot 39 which, as will be seen from Figs. 5 and 8, is out of registration with the slot 38. A plate 40 is also disposed in the slot or groove 27. The plate 40 bears a slot 41 which has an inclined or beveled edge 41 while the Slot 42 on the opposite side of the plate 40 has an inclined or beveled edge 42". The plate 40 is provided with an opening 43 near one end.

The bracket 26is provided with an extension 26?* While the cylindrical member 5 is provided with an extension 5". A lever 44 is fulcrumed at 45 on the extension 26 and is pivoted to the extension 5, The opposite end of this lever is provided with a finger 44 arranged to extend through the opening 43 in the slidable plate 40. A U-shaped spring 47 straddles the extension 26", passes around the fulcrum pin 45, and the arms bear against pins 48 carried by the slidable bar 29. The tension of the spring 47 holds the bar 29 4u against the lever 44.

' Slidably disposed in the cross slot 28 on each side of the slidable bar 29 and plate 40,

' are locking members 49 and 50 respectively.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, the locking member 50 is hollowed out to receive a spring 50", while the inner 'corner of the member .50 is beveled as shown at 50Y. Similarly the member 49 is provided with a beveled portion 49y and with a spring 49". A T-shaped cap 51 is provided with laterally extending portions 51 against which the springs 49x and 50x bear, thus forcing the members 49 and 50 inwardly toward the slidable members 29 and 40.

From the foregoing description of the various arts of the device, the operation thereoF may be readily understood.

In Fig. 4 we have shown diagrammatically one of the uses to which this device may be put, but it will be understood that this diam is merely for illustration only and that the valve operating mechanism could be used in other relations, for example, to operate an electric switch or a throttle valve of an engine. The primary use of the valve mechanism is in connection with starting systems for internal combustion engines. In

Fig. 4, T represents a tank for storing air,

-E the engine of a'n automobile or similar vehicle, A-M an air compressor motor, C a clutch, D a diaphragm which operates the clutch. Let us assume that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4. In this figure the engine E is driving the air compressormotor as a compressor which is pumping air through the pipe W into the tank T. The diaphragm casing is connected by a pipe d with the port 25, see Fig. 1, while a pipe 'o connects the reservoir T with the interior of the valve casing which in Fig. 4 We have denoted in general by O. The opening into the valve casing is through the port 24, see

Fig. 1. It will be seen that the diaphragm D which is collapsed, is in communication with the outer atmosphere through the pipe d, port 25, passage 22, and a small passage 22. As pressure increases in the tank T it flows into the space 10 and presses on the diaphragm 11, see Fig. 1, thus gradually forcing the plunger head 6 to the right against the tension of the spring 7, thus freeing the lever 44 and its fulcrum 45. The finger 44a engages -the plunger 32, see Figs. 1 and 8, thus tending to compress the spring 30 within. the slidable member 29. 'The latter cannot move, however, because :it is locked in posit-ion by means of the slide-ble block 50.

As the pressure increases, the diaphragm 11 tends to press the head 6 farther inwardly, thus moving the plate 40 through .vhich the linger 44a extends, along the slot 27. Now when the beveled portion 42 of the plate 40 reaches the beveled portion 50Y,of the block 50, it will force the latter out'of the slot 39, see Fig. 5. Assoon as the block 5() clears the edge of the slot, then the bar 29 will move suddenly forward under the influence of the spring 30, and main spring 7 thereby causing the plunger 35 to engage the slidable member 19 which bears the valve 20 at its opposite end, thus causing the closing of the valve 20 and the opening of the valve 14, See Fig. 1. The pressure now coming from the reservoir will pass by means of the passage 22, into the pipe d through the port 25 and will tend to push the diaphragm D outwardly .into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, thus moving the clutch C so as to disengage the engine E from the compressor, and thus stop the latter. When the bar 29 moves forwardly, the locking block 49 enters the slot 38 thus locking the member 29 into position. Now when the pressure in the tank decreases' as the air is being used up for any purpose whatever, the spring 7 gradually causes the levei"44 to move in 'the opposite direction. The bar 29 is under tension of the spring 47, but it cannot follow the lever in its movement because it is locked by the lock 4S). The plate 40, however, is retracting and when the beveled portion 41 of the plate 40 reaches the beveled portion 49y of the block 49 it will force the block outwardly and thus out of the slot 38. As soon as the block 49 clears the slot 38 the spring 47 will suddenly throw the bar 29 to the right in Fig. 1, and the spring 16 which bears on the valve 14 as Well as the 'other pressure will cause the closing of the valve 14 and the opening of the valve 2.0, thus shutting o the air-pressure imm of the air on one side of the diaphragm through the 'pipe (I, port 25, and through the exhaust opening 22'. The spring S, Fig. 4, n ill now bring the clutch (l into position so as to cause the driving of the compressor by the engine again.

.lt .vill thus be seen that we have provided a device which automatically operates the valve in accordance vvith the pressure.v As 'a matter 'of fact, the movements of the valves 14 and 2 are very slight compared with the movement ot' the plunger head 6 or with the lever 44. The provision of the springs 30 and in the slidablc bar 29, takes up lost motion and tends to permit the use of a plunger having a relatively long stroke with respect to the movement of the valves.

The tension of the spring 7 may be regulated by means of the set screws 9 which bear on the plate 8. By this means the maximum point at which the valves shift may be regulated, so that the valves may shift at a higl'ier or lower maximum pressure. The range between the maximum and the minimum pressure is regulated by the tension of the spring 30 in the bar 29, and also by the size of the wire and the pitch of the spring 7.

We claim 1. An automatic valve operating mechanism comprising, a plunger, a movable member having operative engagement with the valve, means associated with said plunger for placing the said movable member under spring tension, means for locking said movable member during the initial movement of the plunge), and means actuated by a fur; ther movement of the. plunger to retract the locking means.

An :automatic valve operating mechanism comprising, a plunger, a siidable member adapted to be brought into operative engagement vvith the valve, means for placing;r the slidahle member under spring tension during thc initial movement of the plun g'er` means for preventing the movement of the slidablc member during Said initial movement, means for retracting the locking means to permit movement of said sliilable member, means for locking said slidahle member at the end of its forward x movement, and means for retract-ing the." slidable member on the release ot the lock? ing means. y

5'). The combination with a valve, of automathl means for operating the same, said means comprising a plunger, a slidable member arranged to engage the valve stem, connections between said plunger and Aaid valve for operating the latter, means associated with the slidahle member for preventing movement ol said slidahle member until the plunger has moved through a portion of its stroke, and means also operating to pwvent a reverse movement of the slidahhl member until the plunger has virtually completed its reverse stroke.

4. An automatic valve operating mechanism comprising a pressure chamber, a diay phragm disposed therein, ay plunger arranged to be engaged by said diaphragm, a spring on the opposite side of said pluri ger from the diaphragm, a slidable member arranged to engage the val-ve for operatingI the same, a lever actuated by 'said plunger and arranged to engage said slidable member, means for locking said slidable member during the initial movement. ot' the plunger in one direction, means for locking thil slidahle member ,during the initial moveVv ment of the plruger in the opposite direction, and commoi means for releasing both of said locking means at a predetermined .nl

point in the movement of said plunger.

5. An automatic valve operating 'mechani'sm comprising a pressure chamber, a diaphragm disposed therein, a plunger arranged to be engaged by said diaphragm, a spring on the opposite side of said plunger from the diaphragm, a slidable member ar ranged to engage the valve for operating thi same, a lever actuated by said plunger and arranged to engage said slidable member, means for locking said slidable member during the'initial movement of the plunger in one direction, means for locking the slidable member during the initial movement of the plunger in the opposite direction, and common means for releasing both of said loching means at a predetermined point in the movement of said plunger, said last-named means comprising an mdependently movable cam plate arranged to engage said loching means successively, said cam plate he ing operatively connected with the lever which operates said slidable member.

6. The combination with a valve casing, a pressure chamber communicating ytherewith, a valve disposed in said valve casing, a slidable member arranged to engage the valve for opening the latter, a diaphragm insaid pressure chamber, a spring pressed plunger operated by said diaphragm, a lever pivotally connected with one end of 'said plunger and arranged to bear on said slidable member at the other end, a pair of locking members associated with said slid able member, one of said lockingr members being arranged to lock the slidahle member agaiist'l the initial movement of the plunger in one direction and the other locking member being arranged to lock the slidahle mwaber against the initial movement of the pl a uger in the opposite direction, and a slidarle cam plate arranged to release said lor ing means m succession.

7. An automatic valve operatin;r intensi nism comprising, a slidable bar having lacie ing recesses on opposite sides, locking blocks arranged to enter Said recesses, each of said blocks being provided with a beveled surface, and a cam plate slidable longitudinally on said bar and provided with a cam surface arranged to engage the beveled surfaces of said locking blocks for forcing the latter out of locking engagement with the slidable bar.

8. An automatic valve operating mechanism comprising, a slidable bar having locking recesses on opposite sides, locking blocks arranged to enter said recesses, each of said blocks being provided with a beveled surface, and a reciproeatory cam plate having cam surfaces arranged to engage one of said blocks during its movement in one direction for forcing said block out of locking engage- Yment with said slidable bar and for engaging the other block during the reverse movement of the cam plate.

9. An automatic valve operating mechamsm comprising, a slidahle bar adapted to be brought into operative relation with the valve. .said bar having locking' recesses in its:

ing cam surfaces arranged to engage said looking blocks so as to force the latter out of locking engagement1 and common means for moving said cam plate and said slidable bar.

(,HARLES GEORGE EIDSON. THOMAS DAVIS.

\Vitnesses M. L. ErDsoN, HENRY C. PRESTON, Jr. 

